Means for wrapping merchandise



Nov. 23 1926. 1,608,159

C. N. BERGMANN ""TANS FOR WRAPPING MERCHANDISE Filed Oct. 19 24 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I a I, IAIVIENTOR.

' ATTORNEY Nov. 23 1926.-

c. N. BERGMANN MEANS FOR WRAPPING MERCHANDISE Filed UGLY-16, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MW

. r i e ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN N. BERGMANN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BERG- MANN PACKAGING MACHINE COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION OFJJEIIAW-AREJ MEANS FOR WRAPPING MERCHANDISE.

Application filed October 16, 1924. Serial No. 743,939.

My invention is an improvement in the art of wrapping or packaging merchandise for storage, shipment, or sale.

More particularly, it refers to an improvement in means for holding a plurality of unitary articles of uniform size and shape, in a surrounding flexible bag, as of paper, adapting them for placement in a holding container, and in the method of assembling and charging the articles into the bag, as more particularly hereinafter described.

The invention refers specifically to a convenient and effective means for surrounding and holding a predetermined number of cup-like containers, each filled wit-h a vendible commodity, as ice cream, so that one or more of such containers may be removed from the surrounding wrapper, or the whole number may be delivered with the wrapper intact, as desired.

The invention will be clearly understood from the accompanying drawings, and also in connection with a companion application for an improvement in filling and ack-.

aging machines, filed April-4, 1925, erial No. 20,696.

V In the drawings, showing one preferred embodiment of the invention: I I

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one of the unitary packages of filled containers as it is delivered from the filling machine;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, showing a series of packages surrounded by. the wrapper;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are partial views in perspective, showing the upper end of the wrapper in different forms;

I Fig. 6 is a similar view, showing a modified construct-ion of half-length wrapper or bag. adapted for filling from the top;

Fig. 7 is a plan view, showing a cylindrical holding vessel or can filled with, a plurality of wrapped series of packages;

Fig. 8 is a similar view, showing a rectangular form of holding vessel;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view, showing the operation of ejecting the packages from their holding tray upwardly within the wrapper; and

Fi 10 is a cross section on the lin.. X- of Fig. 9.

The unitary cup or package A is of cylinmeans, as more fully described in the application referred to.

The wrapper of the present invention is an elongated paper bag 2 having a closed or partly closed upper end 3 As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, openings at may be made at each side of a middle cross portion so as to expose a portion ofthe lid or cover of the uppermost container. In Fig, 5, such cross portion 5 consists of a transverse I strip, adapted for use as a lifting handle, or for tearing off to remove the top unit individually.

in which the paper bag 2 is closed at the bottom, as in the ordinary construction of paper bags. In such case, the containers A are filled inwardly of the open end, and a supplemental strip 5 is then pasted across and at each side of the bag, as shown. When so used, the cups should be inserted into the bag with their tops toward the open end of the ba The paper bag 2, as thus made of either form, is fitted down over the thin metal tube D for its full length. When any predetermined number, as eight containers, have been pushed up into the bag through the guiding and supporting slotted tube D, the bag is grasped around the bottom. against the lowermost container, and re-- moved upwardly with 'such enclosed con-' tainers from the metal tube. In such operation the opposite slots d provide clearai'icc for the fingers in grasping the bottom of the bag against the lowermost cup A. The open bottom of the bag is then closed, as at 6, by pasting a strip a or folding and securing In Fig. 3, I show a modified construction,

the loose openwend across in any suitable manner, and the complete package is then placed in a can 7.

As shown in Fig 7, such can is cylindrical and of a size as to diameter and depth suitable for receiving seven such filled bags of packages or cups in compact formation. If preferred, a rectangular can 8 may be used for holding any suitable number of packages in rows, as in Pg. 8. With either form of can, it may be easily handled for refrigeration, storage, shipment, or placing in the compartment space of drug stores or other vendors of ice cream. As indicated, the several containedbags or packages may be of different flavor, more or less as desired, or one or more cans may be filled with the same flavor, depending on quantity requirements. In either case with the tops of the 2 individual cups uppermost, the marked cover a 15 easily visible for selection, because of the openings 4. Thus, an ent1re bag may be removed, or, by tearing off the top 3 or cross portion 5 or 5 one or more individual cups may be removed, to suit the demand.

A further advantage arising from the invention is that any one or more flavors may be exhausted and replenished in the can without disturbance or confusion of the remaining contents due to the segregation of flavors in the Wrappers 2. It is, therefore, never necessary to remove any superimposed units from a lower strata, and it is always possible for the vendor to determine exactly what flavors remain in stock at any time.

WVhile the invention is partially adapted to the handling of ice cream in cups, it is, ob: vious that other commodities, as jelly, jam, candy, seeds, cereals, etc may be packed and stored in the same manner, and the invention is not limited in its application to any specific commodity. I

Its advantag s are obvious, and provision for the size and number of units or other features of special application in use are within the control of tho user in determining the dimensions of the bag.

What I claim is:

A mercantile unit comprising a casing adapted to be filled from the bottom with a series of units and thereafter closed and having at the other end a cross retaining portion providing for visibility of the contents of the tube and functioning as a'carrying element.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature;

CHRISTIAN N. BER-GMANN. 

